County approves consultant for economic development

Published: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 5:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 5:19 p.m.

The board on Tuesday approved hiring Rick Michael as its economic development consultant.

Under the deal, Michael, the former manager of the county’s now-defunct Office of Economic and Small Business Development, will be paid as much $50,000 for his advice on business recruitment.

The agreement runs through Sept. 30.

Michael had been retained as an adviser last October, after his department was eliminated at the start of the new fiscal year. He made $92,622 a year in his previous post, according to Human Resources Director Drew Adams. According to a county report, Michael has already been paid $38,400 over the past six months for his services.

The County Commission waived the competitive-bidding process in hiring Michael, citing his “extensive experience and knowledge in Marion County’s economic development” and the fact that he “has been instrumental in ongoing efforts to bring employment opportunities to our community,” the county report states.

Searching for someone else would have wasted time and money, the report adds.

Michael joined the county staff in 2010 after Lucienne Gaufillet left to take a job in Charlotte County. Gaufillet had served as the county’s first sustainable growth manager, a post created by County Administrator Lee Niblock.

Aside from his job as a county consultant, Michael also represents a restaurateur interested in locating in Silver Springs once it becomes a state park Oct. 1.

Marion County also intends to bid on being one of the state’s concessionaires at the park.

Parks and Recreation Director Gina Peebles said a restaurant is among the services the county seeks to provide. She said she did not know if finding such a vendor for the county was part of Michael’s duties on behalf of the County Commission.

Michael could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, county officials this week will interview a trio of applicants seeking to be the County Commission’s liaison to the Ocala-Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, the community’s main business recruiter. That position pays between $53,123 and $84,531 a year.

<p>The County Commission is keeping an old hand on deck.</p><p>The board on Tuesday approved hiring Rick Michael as its economic development consultant.</p><p>Under the deal, Michael, the former manager of the county's now-defunct Office of Economic and Small Business Development, will be paid as much $50,000 for his advice on business recruitment.</p><p>The agreement runs through Sept. 30.</p><p>Michael had been retained as an adviser last October, after his department was eliminated at the start of the new fiscal year. He made $92,622 a year in his previous post, according to Human Resources Director Drew Adams. According to a county report, Michael has already been paid $38,400 over the past six months for his services.</p><p>The County Commission waived the competitive-bidding process in hiring Michael, citing his “extensive experience and knowledge in Marion County's economic development” and the fact that he “has been instrumental in ongoing efforts to bring employment opportunities to our community,” the county report states.</p><p>Searching for someone else would have wasted time and money, the report adds.</p><p>Michael joined the county staff in 2010 after Lucienne Gaufillet left to take a job in Charlotte County. Gaufillet had served as the county's first sustainable growth manager, a post created by County Administrator Lee Niblock.</p><p>Aside from his job as a county consultant, Michael also represents a restaurateur interested in locating in Silver Springs once it becomes a state park Oct. 1.</p><p>Marion County also intends to bid on being one of the state's concessionaires at the park.</p><p>Parks and Recreation Director Gina Peebles said a restaurant is among the services the county seeks to provide. She said she did not know if finding such a vendor for the county was part of Michael's duties on behalf of the County Commission.</p><p>Michael could not be reached for comment.</p><p>Meanwhile, county officials this week will interview a trio of applicants seeking to be the County Commission's liaison to the Ocala-Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership, the community's main business recruiter. That position pays between $53,123 and $84,531 a year.</p><p><i>Contact Bill Thompson at 352-867-4117 or bill.thompson@starbanner.com.</i></p>